March 25, 2014
VERMILLION, S.D.—A season-opening trip to Eugene to take on the Oregon Ducks, a home opener against William Penn and a Dakota Days contest against UNI highlight South Dakota's 2014 football schedule released Tuesday by head football coach Joe Glenn.
The fall slate features 12 regular season games – six home and six away. With the exception of Indiana State, the Coyotes will take on all members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). That includes a first-ever meeting against Southern Illinois on the opening weekend of MVFC play on Oct. 4.
The season starts Aug. 30 against Oregon, an 11-2 team that beat Texas in the Alamo Bowl and finished with a top-10 national ranking. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
The Coyotes will return home to host William Penn, an NAIA team from Oskaloosa, Iowa, that USD beat 52-0 to begin the 2009 season. South Dakota has won 12 consecutive home openers dating back to 2003.
The non-conference slate concludes with rematches against both Montana (Sept. 13) and Northern Arizona (Sept. 20) of the Big Sky Conference. Glenn has held coaching positions at both programs in the past. He was the backfield coach in Flagstaff, Ariz., in 1975 before he received his first head coaching position at Doane College. He led Montana to a national championship in 2001 and a national runner-up finish in 2000.
South Dakota will take a week off from competition before opening conference play against the Salukis in Carbondale, Ill. USD will play four home games in the six weeks that follow. That includes the Dakota Days date with UNI on Oct. 11. South Dakota and rival-South Dakota State square off in the regular season finale Nov. 22 in Brookings for the SD Corn Showdown Series.
A full look at the 2014 football schedule is shown below. Start times will be announced at a later date.
South Dakota 2014 Football Schedule
| Date |
Opponent |
Location |
Last Played |
Meeting |
| Aug. 30 |
Oregon |
Eugene, Ore. |
-- |
First |
| Sept. 6 |
William Penn |
Vermillion, S.D. |
2009 |
Second |
| Sept. 13 |
Montana |
Missoula, Mont. |
2013 |
18th |
| Sept. 20 |
Northern Arizona |
Vermillion, S.D. |
2013 |
Second |
| Oct. 4 |
Southern Illinois* |
Carbondale, Ill. |
-- |
First |
| Oct. 11 |
UNI* |
Vermillion, S.D. |
2013 |
45th |
| Oct. 18 |
Missouri State* |
Springfield, Mo. |
2013 |
Third |
| Oct. 25 |
North Dakota State* |
Vermillion, S.D. |
2013 |
79th |
| Nov. 1 |
Youngstown State* |
Youngstown, Ohio |
2013 |
Third |
| Nov. 8 |
Western Illinois* |
Vermillion, S.D. |
2013 |
Fifth |
| Nov. 15 |
Illinois State* |
Vermillion, S.D. |
2013 |
Fourth |
| Nov. 22 |
South Dakota State* |
Brookings, S.D. |
2013 |
108th |
Notes:
Home games in bold
* - Missouri Valley Football Conference
Celebrate Commerce Day – Sept. 6 vs. William Penn
Hall of Fame / Ag Appreciation Day – Sept. 20 vs. Northern Arizona
Dakota Days – Oct. 11 vs. UNI
Military Appreciation Day – Nov. 8 vs. Western Illinois
Fan Appreciation Day – Nov. 15 vs. Illinois State
